The death of a fetus in the early or late months of pregnancy is obviously the most difficult test for a woman. Miscarriage, which we call the loss of a fetus before the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy, is, of course, also difficult to experience, but the loss of a fully formed child during or after childbirth seems to be the most terrible outcome of pregnancy, and some of the readers will probably find this section difficult to read. However, many women who experience this tragic event often express regret that they were not prepared for it as they were for other aspects of pregnancy.

When do they talk about the birth of a stillborn fetus?

A stillbirth is said to occur when a child dies during childbirth or before birth after the twenty-fourth week of intrauterine development. The commonly used concept of “prenatal mortality” includes stillbirth and fetal death in the first week of life. This concept does not include the loss of a child in the second, third or fourth weeks of life, since in this case the causes of fetal death are considered to be less attributable to the course of pregnancy.

The prenatal mortality rate is calculated not only for statistical purposes, but also to study its causes, which may include the mother’s heredity, her past illnesses, educational level, and the management of pregnancy and childbirth. In order to understand the reasons and thereby prevent an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy after the 24th week, doctors count prenatal deaths per thousand births. The current prenatal mortality rate in England and Wales is approximately 9 per thousand.
You saw in the chart at the beginning of the book that prenatal mortality has fallen significantly over the past 40 years, largely due to improvements in public health. However, the recent decline in prenatal mortality can be attributed to some extent to improvements in obstetric care.

There are three main factors that can affect the outcome of pregnancy: the woman's age, number of children and social status. The number of children you have increases with age, but older or very young mothers are at greatest risk. A mother giving birth to her second or third child is at the lowest risk, regardless of her age. This may be due to the lack of prenatal care for very young mothers and the increased likelihood of illnesses or complications during pregnancy in older women.

A previous pregnancy can serve as a warning about what may happen in a subsequent pregnancy, and there is certainly a reproductive pattern. Some risk factors tend to recur and thus may affect the next pregnancy. They may be hereditary or acquired. The risk increases slightly in case of a previous miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or the birth of a premature or stillborn baby.

All these factors can be taken into account at the beginning of pregnancy, so the course of pregnancy is carefully recorded, which allows the doctor to plan pregnancy management.

Why is a child born still?

There are many theories regarding unexpected fetal death. Often there is no obvious cause, and several factors may be involved at the same time. The three main causes are: congenital disorders; prematurity; asphyxia due to lack of oxygen as a result of ineffective functioning of the placenta. Sometimes a complication may occur during the birth itself, resulting in the death of the child. In some cases, the reasons are known: premature placental abruption, Rh conflict, umbilical cord entanglement.

Unfortunately, there are cases where there is no obvious cause of death of the child, and such unexplained death of the fetus is one of the most sad events that the mother and medical staff have to come to terms with.

Intrauterine death of a child

With the death of the fetus, most of the sensations that accompany pregnancy disappear fairly quickly. One of the first things a woman may notice is a lack of fetal movement. The difficulty is that often the baby's movements can stop - or so it may seem to the woman - for several hours or even a whole day.

If active and regular fetal movements are observed in the last stages of pregnancy, and then a sudden change occurs, you should immediately notify your doctor. You will likely be asked to check for a fetal heartbeat using a regular stethoscope or electronic monitoring or ultrasound examination. A woman may also notice a fairly rapid decrease in breast size, since the uterus in this case shrinks and the production of pregnancy hormones stops.

If the death of the fetus is confirmed, this will not cause any harm to the woman’s body. The doctor or midwife must decide how to tell the woman what happened and what to do next. The usual reaction of parents is to ask for the dead baby to be removed from the womb as soon as possible, but there is no need to urgently induce labor if the parents prefer to wait a little while to comprehend what has happened.
When the parents decide to remove the child, the woman is placed in one of the departments maternity hospital and induce labor using gynecological balls containing the substance prostaglandin. Sometimes it is necessary to insert several of these balls at four-hour intervals in order for labor contractions to begin, since the uterus is not yet ready for childbirth and its contractions must be artificially stimulated. Fortunately, labor usually begins within a few hours.

Contractions begin or the membranes may rupture amniotic sac, and sometimes help is needed in the form of an intravenous infusion of a substance that stimulates uterine contractions (syntocinon). If strong enough uterine contractions can be achieved, labor will usually follow quickly, and although the woman will have to work hard to push the baby out, she won't have to push for very long.

Sometimes, unfortunately, a child may die during a completely normal birth, usually due to insufficient oxygen supply to the baby from the placenta, and in some cases due to the umbilical cord being entangled around the baby's neck. Of course, it is impossible to say exactly to what extent these problems caused death, and often we can only speculate about what actually happened.
During childbirth, the uterus contracts regularly, and at the peak of each contraction, the blood supply to the placenta is interrupted. Healthy child tolerates this easily as it only lasts a few seconds every few minutes, however, if there is an additional factor that interferes with the blood supply to the placenta, it can be a great challenge for the fetus and cause development pathological condition. In some cases, the lack of oxygen during childbirth occurs because the uterus contracts strongly and quickly with too short intervals between contractions. Sometimes the causes may be sudden uterine bleeding due to abruption of a small fragment of the placenta, prolapse of the umbilical cord or, in very rare cases, obstructed labor.
Can a baby die as a result of a difficult birth?

It should be said that this is an extremely rare cause of death in a child. If the birth of a baby requires the use of forceps and is more difficult than usual, the baby may experience internal bleeding, which can cause problems.

In reality, this is unlikely, since the baby can withstand enormous pressure, and if the birth is expected to be difficult, a doctor experienced in the use of forceps and other aids is called in. This is one of the most difficult facts to understand because parents have every reason to believe that something happened during childbirth, and it is also quite understandable that they blame the doctors or midwives for everything if they suspect that there was a mistake on their part. or they made the wrong decision.

Congenital disorders and defects

Of course, all parents experience a natural fear that their child may be abnormal. These fears cannot be dispelled, but perhaps parents will be reassured by the fact that 97% of all children are born normal, and of the 2.5% of children with disabilities, half have only minor defects, such as an extra finger, deformation of the auricle, birthmarks etc. Quite serious congenital disorders that can lead to intrauterine death occur in one case out of two hundred.

It is also consoling that many of the abnormalities that were very serious several decades ago can be completely eliminated by modern medicine.
Medicine has made such progress that many of these disorders can be detected even before birth using ultrasound, and appropriate measures can be taken: either termination of pregnancy if the parents want it, or delivery in a special department, which has all the conditions to correct some surgical violations.

After stillbirth

Is it born baby dead, dies soon after birth or a few weeks later, it is not easy for parents to come to terms with this loss.
They are often depressed and unable to explain to themselves what happened. How did it happen? Why did this happen? Was there any hope? Could it have been prevented? death? The past and present seem so incomprehensible that it is impossible to even think about what to do next.

Many parents want to see the child or have a photograph of him. Quite often, a grief-stricken mother simply does not know what to do. If a child has significant physical deformities, staff may be hesitant to show the child to parents. On the other hand, parents may want to see the child, since deformities may prove that death was rather a deliverance.
If the baby looks normal outwardly, parents can take comfort in the fact that they had a baby. beautiful child. Some mothers want to hold their baby after birth or a little later. The midwife usually wraps the baby before showing it to the mother, and the mother can take comfort in knowing that the baby appears quite normal. Seeing those parts that are formed normally in a child is very important both for the mother’s condition in this moment, and for future pregnancy.

Some maternity hospitals make sure to take photographs of all deceased children, and if months or even years later parents want to have something to remember the child, these photographs can bring comfort. If parents want to take the photographs, they will be readily given them.

As difficult as it may be to make such a decision during a time of deep mourning, parents will be asked for permission to perform an autopsy, which may provide important information that could influence future pregnancy, and since mothers so often blame themselves for what happened, a post-mortem study can take that weight off their shoulders. Even if the cause of death cannot be determined, the examination can often confirm that the parents did not make any mistakes, and the information obtained from the post-mortem examination can help other children who are at risk of the same danger.

The child needs to be registered, which is often an unnecessary bitter reminder of what happened, and the hospital chaplain will serve the funeral service. There is no immediate need to make a difficult decision about whether or not to have a funeral or in what form it should take place.

Physiological changes after childbirth

No big difference between the birth of a live child and a dead one, which refers to the physiological changes that occur when the body returns to normal. There may be painful sensations in the breasts associated with milk production, which can be stopped by taking special pills.
Before a woman is discharged from the maternity hospital, which, of course, will happen at any time convenient for her, she is usually prescribed a consultation with a doctor. This is very important step, and although this can be an extremely difficult experience, during the conversation much can be done to make the parents feel better. If an autopsy was performed, the results will be discussed during the consultation.

It is often helpful to come back for a follow-up consultation a few weeks later if you have any additional questions that your doctor will be happy to answer. Two key points issues that should be addressed in this conversation are the mother's feeling that she may have done something wrong that led to the baby's death, the likelihood of the next pregnancy having the same outcome if the couple decided to conceive again, and what time would be most suitable for this.

It is fair to say that there is no way a mother can cause such misfortune. Women often feel that they didn't get enough rest before giving birth, were too active, or didn't watch their diet enough. Women can be sure that these are natural questions that are often asked, but they have nothing to do with what happened.

In cases where the exact cause of fetal death has not been established, certain tests may be performed to detect rare viral diseases such as toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus. If a child was born with congenital disorders, consultation with a geneticist will help determine the likelihood of recurrence in a subsequent pregnancy.

From a physiological point of view, there is no reason that would not allow a couple to try to have a child again, approximately two months after the tragedy. Previously, it was believed that it was necessary to wait three to four months in order for the cycle to normalize, but in reality this does not mean of great importance. If the couple prefers not to wait that long, there are no contraindications once all the examinations have been completed. Even if we are talking about complicated natural childbirth or about caesarean section, the couple does not need to wait more than a few months.

How to cope with grief for a woman who has lost a child?

Several factors force a woman to deeply hide her experiences from others. Outwardly, as a rule, a woman copes with her grief surprisingly easily. The birth of a child seems like an event that never happened, and the woman's main feeling may be shame. The feeling of inferiority and failure makes a woman want to hide from the eyes of others, and the offer of a separate room sometimes only worsens the matter. A woman feels guilty when she has nothing to reproach herself for, feels sick without being sick, and most of all feels a sense of emptiness and loss, without even having memories of the one she lost.
It is always difficult to find words of comfort in the event of a stillbirth. Friends and relatives have no memories, no words of affection and love about someone they have never seen. With the best of intentions, they may make comments such as, “There will be more children,” which can deeply hurt. Much more than consolation, a woman in this case needs sincere sympathy for her grief.

In conclusion, it should be said that subsequent pregnancy is a period of psychological stress, which increases the more more woman tries to convince herself that this time the pregnancy will end successfully, in the hope that with the birth of a normal child everything will work out. Fortunately, repeat stillbirths from unknown causes are extremely rare, and most women can be confident that the outcome of a subsequent pregnancy will be a happy one.

Source Sanders P. All about pregnancy: day by day. - M.: Eksmo Publishing House, 2005.

01.11.2007, 00:43

Please tell me how children and stillborns are buried in maternity hospitals (we are talking about those who died in the perinatal period)? How can parents find a burial place?

The fact is that many parents are not explained the burial procedure. It even happens that in response to parents’ requests to give up their child (sorry the right word I can’t write) for burial, they refuse. Sad but true!
And then, when some time passes, the parents come to their senses, try to find the burial place.... they answer something like
"cremated and in a common pit."
I really hope for an answer. For us it is very important.

01.11.2007, 12:47

Use the search - this topic has already been discussed.

01.11.2007, 13:26

I used the search. I found the topic "Stillbirth".

That's not what I asked.

I know very well that parents can bury their child. To do this, they must contact the morgue within three days with a statement about this.
But three days is very little. For three days the mother is in best case scenario in an insane state, at worst in intensive care. It’s not easy for a father either... You understand perfectly well that when an adult dies, no one has any questions. And if a fetus dies (stillbirth) or a child within the first day after birth.... Everything is different. Not only do they not tell parents that the child CAN be taken away and buried, but sometimes they refuse.
Parents are often unprepared, being in this state, to find information about their rights and defend them. Three days is very little...
What I described is reality. It's sad, but it happens.

I know that if the burial is carried out by a medical institution, each child still has a separate grave. There can be no common pits
(or should not be, I believe that the Laws are respected).

So I ask -

How can parents find a burial place?

Contact the maternity hospital... find out which cemetery... I have a lot of questions...
What documents (magazines or something else) located in the maternity hospital contain such information? How long should these documents be kept? etc. and so on.

I ask you to write the search algorithm here.

For many parents this is VERY IMPORTANT. Trust me! And please don't discuss this...

P.S. If this topic has already been discussed, please give me the link.
Thank you.

01.11.2007, 17:11

And I beg you very much! Just don't be silent. Silence is scary.
In any case, no matter how much it would be better for me to know the TRUTH than to live in ignorance.
We were able to bury our child, thanks to the doctor who delivered the child.
I just really want to help the girls on our site. This is an eternal and very sore subject. If the truth turns out to be terrible, I will not provide a link to this topic.
Thank you.

01.11.2007, 17:25

You know, what a thing. The fact is that the funeral law only mentions children born dead after 196 days (7 obstetric months) of pregnancy. A state benefit is issued for their burial, and all guarantees relating to other deceased persons also apply.
The topic is not just sore - it is VERY sore. And it’s very difficult to find words. So forgive me if I wasn't "warm" enough. I am afraid that the truth is not at all what we would like.

01.11.2007, 18:11

The fact is that those who lost babies before the end of 7 obstetric months do not have any illusions.
I'm talking about children who died in the perinatal period (liveborn and stillborn - it doesn't matter).
I just don't believe that they can be in a "common hole". But some parents respond this way. I hope this is NOT TRUE.
That's why I'm asking for a search algorithm. I believe that they are in a separate grave and it can be found.

01.11.2007, 18:39

Or I’ll pose the question differently. Maybe the BBC will answer it.
What should parents do if, when asked verbally to indicate the burial place of a child who died during the perinatal period, the answer is “he is in a common pit”?

01.11.2007, 19:16

Dear Artemon,
Have any of these parents contacted a lawyer?

01.11.2007, 19:34

There is this article:

About burial and funeral business

Federal Law of January 12, 1996 N 8-FZ (as amended on June 28, 1997, July 21, 1998, August 7, 2000, May 30, 2001, July 25, December 11, 2002, 10 January, June 30, 2003, August 22, December 29, 2004, April 21, 2005)

Adopted by the State Duma on December 8, 1995
(...)
Article 8. Guarantees during the burial of the deceased

The spouse, close relatives, other relatives, the legal representative of the deceased or another person who has taken upon himself the responsibility to bury the deceased are guaranteed:

1) issuance of documents necessary for the burial of the deceased, within 24 hours from the moment the cause of death is established; in cases where, in order to establish the cause of death, there are grounds for placing the body of the deceased in the morgue, the release of the body of the deceased at the request of the spouse, close relatives, other relatives, legal representative the deceased or another person who has assumed the responsibility to bury the deceased cannot be detained for a period of more than two days from the moment the cause of death is established;

2) provision of the opportunity to find the body of the deceased in the morgue free of charge until seven days from the moment the cause of death is established if the spouse, close relatives, other relatives, the legal representative of the deceased or another person who has assumed the responsibility to bury the deceased are notified of the death, but there are circumstances that make it difficult for them to carry out burial; in the case of searching for a spouse, close relatives, other relatives or a legal representative of the deceased, this period may be increased to fourteen days;

(...)
Article 30. Liability for violation of this Federal Law

Persons guilty of violating this Federal Law are liable in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

That is, the logical continuation will be like this.
The autopsy is usually performed within a few days, unless the parents prohibit it. After this, the body must be picked up within two days. Or provide reasons for deferment.
Since it is impossible to know exactly when the autopsy will take place (if the parents have not refused it), it is better to start moving in this direction as quickly as possible. To the parent who is able to do this.

01.11.2007, 20:21

Yes, that's all true! But it’s too late to talk about it!

I don’t know how it is in Russia, here in Ukraine.... I myself signed in the birth history that I was informed about the burial procedure. Moreover, I signed without reading, I had no time for it then. The doctor in the delivery room (I was in the chair) simply handed me the papers - sign three times. I signed. At that time I was absolutely not interested in what was written there. And then, “information about the burial procedure” is something abstract.
You can give any information. Including - “we don’t give out such people” or
" not allowed". From the point of view of the Law, everything is pure!

I basically already understood the situation. Yes, somewhere on the Internet I found an article in the “yellow” press that in some cases, in violation of the Law, such children are buried in a common pit, i.e. along with biowaste. So it's true!
I try not to give vent to my emotions...

One more question. Not very strong in law. Tell me, now to a civil or administrative court or to the prosecutor's office?
Under what article is this and in what code? (well, this is of course for those parents who want and find the strength to do this)

01.11.2007, 20:30

A signature under a paper that says “I agree to everything” is easy to challenge in court. It is best to contact the prosecutor's office. They will at least explain what and how, they won’t take money for it, and if necessary, they can act in your interests in court.

01.11.2007, 20:50

Yes. I understand you.
I have extensive experience communicating with prosecutors and lawyers.

If any of our girls wants to do this...
I really don’t want to send them to lawyers. I think I can file a statement with the prosecutor’s office. There is nothing complicated here.
I need an article to correctly write “corpus delicti” and everything else. Of course, I can search in our Criminal Codes myself (on our website there are representatives of different states, including the former USSR). But I’m afraid to make a mistake in choosing an article... Still, I’m not a lawyer.

Maybe someone can still quote “our” article here?

01.11.2007, 21:06

You don't need to search for an article. You need to ask the question correctly. Detection of violations and their qualification is precisely the job of the prosecutor's office.

01.11.2007, 21:15

01.11.2007, 21:44

I know how the prosecutor's office works - what is the question, is the answer....
In order to ask the question correctly, I must know the correct classification of the above violations. Need a lawyer's help!
Again. Correct classification of violations is the job of the prosecutor's office. “To ask the question correctly” means “describe accurately and in detail how the matter happened and at the end write - Please answer whether there were any violations on the part of the employees of such and such a hospital in the issue of releasing the body of our son/daughter for burial.”

01.11.2007, 22:16

This is the road to nowhere!
I already see the response from the prosecutor's office.
“In accordance with the normative act (quoted by you above), the order is such and such.... The postpartum woman, full name, was informed by a medical worker, full name of such and such a medical institution, about the “burial procedure,” about which there is a signature of the postpartum woman, full name, in the birth history. Those interviewed, nurse Ivanova, midwife Petrova and nurse Sidorova, confirmed that the woman giving birth, full name and full name, was indeed provided with complete information about the “burial procedure”.
The autopsy of the child's full name was performed on such and such a date. Within two days, the child’s relatives, full name and full name, did not submit a statement..... etc. and so on.
There are no violations."

Or am I not right?

The preamble is completely different.

Burial is permitted only in a cemetery. Burial can be of two types. In a new individual grave or related. There cannot be any mass graves, much less in the basement or in the planting area. Moreover, information about who is buried in which grave should be contained in the journal of the cemetery administration.
I think this is a good direction for the prosecutor’s office to work in.

Maybe someone can help in this matter?

02.11.2007, 00:10

The woman must ONLY be informed about the existing order. She signs the receipt of such information in the birth history.

She was informed of the procedure. The rest is her own business. Didn't take the child. This means they are buried at the expense of the state. No written refusal to bury the child or written consent that this would be done at the expense of the state is required from her.

To claim that she was uninformed or was informed incorrectly (despite the fact that the birth history contains her signature!) and for this very reason she could not bury her child...
Even omitting the point that this is difficult to prove... This is only a disciplinary sanction...

This is how I see this situation. But I'm not a lawyer.

But this is what I want to write about...

I am hope for your help.
Thank you.

02.11.2007, 01:25

umm.. disciplinary action to whom and for what?

02.11.2007, 02:32

I'm not a lawyer. Therefore, I ask for help.

I looked at the Ukrainian order. It says that the woman signs in the birth history that she has been provided with information about the burial procedure and consent to have this done by a medical institution. Just like that! I'm sorry.

What should I report to the prosecutor's office?
About violations in the issue of issuing the body of a child for burial or the fact that they cannot indicate the place of burial of the child? Or about everything at once?

I just don’t see any prospects in “violations in the issue of issuing a child’s body for burial.” Of course, everything depends on the subtleties of your Russian legislation.

I wouldn’t like to advise girls to contact the prosecutor’s office just to shake the air.

Thank you.

02.11.2007, 07:10

Apparently, a precedent is needed. In a Russian court, the signature on the receipt “I know everything” is disputed. If the patient is given a paper to sign, it should say “I know that I have the right, within two days after the autopsy, to pick up the child’s body for burial. I know that the autopsy will take place at that time. I also know that in the event ", if I do not pick up the body within this period or do not provide confirmation of circumstances that allow extending the period of stay of the child's body in the morgue, it will be buried by the hospital in accordance with the general procedure." It is truly impossible to challenge the signature on such a document. If you need to create a precedent, then you need to go straight to court about this. So that the court tells everyone what the difference is between the first and second versions of the receipt.

02.11.2007, 11:50

As far as I understand from one post in Russia, a woman does not give any receipts at all. Right?
From which it automatically follows - she didn’t take the child, which means the funeral is at the expense of the state. There is nothing to dispute. Right?

And here in Ukraine, they discuss issues with the woman about burying the child’s body and inform her about the procedure for carrying out medical treatment. institution (provided regulatory documents). Obtaining consent for the child to be buried by honey. establishment
is made out by a corresponding entry in the birth history with the personal signature of the woman.
(this is almost a literal translation).

1.4. Discuss with fathers, children, women or relatives
nutrition to clean the child’s body and inform them about the order
development of his medical and preventive deposit, transfers
regulatory documents. Otrimannya zgodi na pokhannaya tіla child
The medical and preventive pledge is recorded in a corresponding record
in the history of canopies with a special signature of the species
before the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated 03.07.95 N 124 "About
thorough management of medical documentation, which records illnesses
people and deaths."

Trying to prove that she gave her consent to burial by a medical institution because something was told incorrectly or not told at all..... A useless exercise. The woman is alone. And the doctor has a whole maternity hospital - witnesses.

Let's think about something else. Yes, the woman did not bury the child, this was done at the expense of the state. But this does not mean at all that she does not have the right to know the place of burial of the child. So she turns to the maternity hospital (orally for now) and they tell her that her child is in a common pit. And the woman understands that most likely her child was buried in violation of the Law.
What to do next?

02.11.2007, 13:35

…
2. Fundamental human rights and freedoms are inalienable and belong to everyone from birth. Art. 17 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation

In accordance with the Law:
1. On the territory of the Russian Federation, after his death, every person is guaranteed burial taking into account his will, providing a free plot of land for burying the body (remains) or ashes in accordance with this Federal law. Art. 7
Accordingly, there can be no talk of any “burial in a common heap”
2. The spouse, close relatives, other relatives, the legal representative of the deceased or another person who has taken upon himself the responsibility to carry out the burial of the deceased are guaranteed:
….
2) provision of the opportunity to find the body of the deceased in the morgue free of charge until seven days from the moment the cause of death is established if the spouse, close relatives, other relatives, the legal representative of the deceased or another person who has assumed the responsibility to bury the deceased are notified of the death, but there are circumstances that make it difficult for them to carry out burial; in case of searching for a spouse, close relatives, other relatives or a legal representative of the deceased, this period may be increased to fourteen days
Since in the event of the death of a child, his “close relatives”, i.e. parents, have the right to count on 2 weeks of free storage of the body in the morgue.
3. Burial by specialized services (in Russia, health care facilities do not bury anyone) is possible only on the grounds specified in Art. 12
In the absence of a spouse, close relatives, other relatives or the legal representative of the deceased or in the absence of them to carry out the burial, as well as in the absence of other persons who have taken upon themselves the obligation to carry out the burial, the burial of the deceased at home, on the street or in another place after the determination by the internal affairs bodies his identity is carried out by a specialized funeral service within three days from the moment the cause of death is established, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Since there are close relatives present, the article is not applicable.
Moreover, the procedure for applying this article is disclosed in the Letter of the Ministry of Health and social development RF dated June 22, 2005 N 244-MZ “On the provision of ritual burial services in the absence of relatives or persons who took upon themselves to organize the funeral” In order to protect the will of citizens to treat their body with dignity after death, the state in accordance with paragraph 2 Article 8 of the Federal Law guarantees the possibility of free stay of the body of the deceased in the morgue for up to fourteen days to search for relatives or a legal representative.
At the same time, federal executive authorities, executive authorities of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local governments, as well as other legal entities are obliged to provide assistance in finding relatives or a legal representative, in carrying out the will of citizens, as well as other services necessary for such cases.
(well, that's true, by the way)
4. If the situation described had occurred in Russia, the appeal to the prosecutor’s office would have been based on a violation of the articles cited above.

To summarize
- we have repeatedly indicated that we are competent to give explanations only in relation to Russian legislation. To obtain advice on the medical law of other countries, you should contact similar forums of the country whose legislation you are interested in,
- explanations were given as to how a similar situation would be resolved in Russia.
- the stated topic contradicts the principle of “impossibility of consulting through third parties”, does not contain reliable information about a specific case and provides for commenting on distorted sources. As a result, unless new data worth considering is provided, the topic will be closed this evening.

02.11.2007, 14:22

No, well, there was a specific question. And the BBC answered it. Thank you.
It’s just that the situation has turned out that we are speaking “in different languages.”
I even named the topic incorrectly. Because I proceed from how it is in Ukraine.
Thank you. I understood everything.

02.11.2007, 16:22

No. Everything is correct.
Thank you! The fact that everything is different here in Russia was a discovery for me.

I just have one more question. I hope it's "worthy of consideration."
And then I gave a link to this topic to the girls on our forum. They have the right to know the truth.

The fundamental rights and freedoms of HUMAN are inalienable and belong to everyone from BIRTH. Art. 17 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation

IN Russian Federation There are no special rules regarding the burial of children who died in the perinatal period. In all cases, the procedure is regulated by Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 12, 1996 “On burial and funeral affairs” (with additions).

So the stillborn fetus is a person? The fact of the birth of a still child is registered in the registry office. Can we consider this to be “birth”?
In this case, the stillborn child should have all human rights and freedoms.
Which is clearly not observed.

When a patient dies, we inform relatives (a child has died or was stillborn - this is also reported).
Then there are two options - or the relatives undertake to bury it - I issue a death certificate, if without an autopsy (if there was an autopsy, then by a pathologist). Or relatives, if they cannot undertake burial obligations, write a refusal to do so. After which I write a certificate, and the deceased is buried by the administrative and economic department (this is done through a special department of the mayor’s office, which receives a funeral allowance).

I recently had such a case when ex-wife refused to bury her ex-husband(there was no money). It was not difficult for me to tell her that in order to receive a pension for the child of the deceased, she herself would have to obtain a duplicate of the legal certificate from the registry office (since the original will be received by the one who will bury).
The deceased was buried in state custody. check.

A month later, a letter came from his mother, from somewhere in the middle zone, she asked to know where her son was buried. It was enough for me to find out the phone number of the office that deals with this and call. After 15 minutes they told me the cemetery, the plot, and the number of the grave. On the same day I sent a letter.
That is, there was no problem here. They told me that they would have answered the mother as well.

Since the maternity hospital or hospital where the birth took place issues a death certificate, the recipient's signature must be there. And there should be an organization that deals with the burial of unclaimed corpses. Since there was a death certificate, the grave should be separate. And they must tell the relatives where the child is buried - the certificate is issued in the mother’s name, even if the child was born dead.

And if a child was born dead after 28 weeks, then his burial is regulated by the same law on burial.
It would, of course, be logical if the institution had a different practice for dealing with parents who find themselves in such trouble, since it is precisely this - treating dead children as if they never existed - that provokes conflicts.
THANK YOU!

I asked the BBC about the right to life of a FETUS. For the murder of a fetus, criminal liability is imposed under Art. "murder" is not attractive.
Probably in this case there was simply no fact of birth. In any case
I don’t want to engage in sophistry.

If obstetricians, gynecologists and neonatologists are interested, I can share information about the practice of dealing with parents who have lost a child in civilized countries.

02.11.2007, 17:53

Do you want to engage in sophistry? (c) Excuse me.
Naturally, the right to life belongs to the child. And the implementation of this right includes all possible medical interventions aimed at preserving life, including resuscitation measures, if indicated.
Thus, the implementation of the right is limited by the capabilities of medicine today.

Strictly speaking, the right to life belongs to all people. But they all die sooner or later.

You are not entirely right in the maxim For the murder of a fetus, criminal liability is imposed under Art. "murder" does not attract
Indeed, the death of a child in the womb does not fall under Art. 106. of the Criminal Code, but is interpreted by law as “causing grievous bodily harm.” In relation to the mother. That is, one cannot talk about the unpunishability of the act.
The death of a born child can be considered in the context of Art. 106. If relevant signs of a crime are detected.

Your communication experience may be of interest to both colleagues and forum guests. If you gather your strength, create a topic in the "Miscellaneous" section. Having cleared this topic, I am closing it.
If in the future any legal issues related to this topic arise, you can contact me via PS and we will return to the discussion

thanks for interesting topic. With sincere sympathy.

Approximately 1 in 200 pregnancies ends in stillbirth. A baby born without signs of life at 24 weeks of gestation or later is called stillborn. The baby may die during pregnancy (intrauterine death) or during childbirth.
In this article we will talk about some of the causes of stillbirth, advise what to do during this difficult period and how to cope with the loss of a child. The article will also be useful if you need to support someone you know or family member who has experienced a similar tragedy.

What should you pay attention to first?

The first warning sign is a reduction or complete cessation of fetal movements in the uterus. Along with this, bleeding from the vagina may begin. If you notice these signs, contact your doctor immediately. You will have an ultrasound or fetal heartbeat test.
Sometimes the first sign of a problem is, which begins with the breaking of water and contractions.

What happens when a baby dies before birth?

When a baby dies in the womb, the woman is taken to hospital and labor to remove the dead fetus. It is better to do this as soon as possible, as delay can adversely affect the mother's health.
If you have a multiple pregnancy, your doctor may advise you to keep it to allow the other baby(s) to develop normally. Some parents are frightened by the thought of dead child will be close to the living. But it's possible. The dead fetus undergoes reverse development and its tissues will leave the uterus after birth healthy child(or children). However, if the fetus dies early in pregnancy, no visible signs may be detected.
The supervising doctor must explain to the woman all the consequences.
In case of artificial or spontaneous childbirth, the woman is placed in a special ward. Staff should explain all your options and what to expect. A woman should have time to make a decision and should not feel pressured by medical staff.

What happens when a baby dies in childbirth?

Sometimes a child dies unexpectedly during childbirth due to problems with the placenta and umbilical cord. Such problems can lead to acute hypoxia and death of the child. This is very traumatic for parents. The maternity hospital staff provides emergency assistance without time to explain the situation. This frightens parents and adds to their stress.
If the child died in childbirth, you need time to understand what happened and not make hasty conclusions.

Can I see my baby?

It all depends on the circumstances. Research shows that many parents need to touch or hold their baby. This makes them feel a little better.
Perhaps you want to see your baby but are worried about what he looks like. You can ask the midwife to first describe it in words or take a photograph. Some parents leave a photo of the child as a souvenir and wash and dress him themselves. However, if the baby was born much ahead of schedule or has been dead for some time in utero, it is impossible to wash the body of a deceased child, since his skin is very easily injured.
Some parents want to leave something as a keepsake. The decisions made in such a situation are very individual. You and your other half may perceive the situation differently. You may need time to fully understand what happened. But in any case, the medical staff must meet you halfway.

Is it possible to find out the cause of death?

The cause of death can be determined by testing the mother's blood, examining the placenta, or performing an autopsy on the baby. But it should be remembered that in more than half of cases of stillbirth, no explanation for death can be found.
An autopsy will help:

• establish the causes of death,
• obtain information about the child's development,
• obtain information about health problems that need to be taken into account during subsequent pregnancies,
• determine the sex of the child.

An autopsy does not always reveal the cause of death, which has a depressing effect on parents. You may not consent to an autopsy due to personal, religious, or other beliefs. The hospital staff should provide you with all the information on this topic so that you can make a decision. No research will be conducted without your consent; your wishes must be taken into account. You may need time to think things through. But the earlier the autopsy is performed, the more information can be obtained. If you decide to have an autopsy, you must express your consent in writing before the procedure. You will know in advance whether the baby can be seen after the autopsy and what it will look like. If your baby is not shown to you after the autopsy, you will probably want to say goodbye to him before the procedure. When you are told about the autopsy results, discuss them with your doctor.

What are the causes of stillbirth?

In more than half of the cases, the cause of death cannot be determined. But there are some factors that can lead to dire consequences:

• genetic or physical abnormalities where the fetus's brain, heart, or other organs do not develop correctly;
• bleeding before birth, for example due to premature abruption of a normally located placenta;
• prematurity - severely premature babies may not survive childbirth. Sometimes this occurs due to placental insufficiency, when little oxygen and nutrients reach the fetus.
• or late toxicosis of pregnancy. About 1,000 children die each year from preeclampsia, most of them being stillborn.
• Rh conflict, when antibodies in the mother’s blood attack the fetus’s blood cells.
• . This is a rare pregnancy complication where there is an increase in bile acid in the bloodstream. The risk of stillbirth with this disease is 15% higher than without complications.
• maternal diabetes;
• infections such as salmonellosis or;
• diseases of the immune system - for example, antiphospholipid syndrome;
• many children die as a result of birth trauma. The risk increases with shoulder dystocia, when after the birth of the head the shoulders become stuck and cannot come out. The risk also increases with breech presentation. Problems with the umbilical cord can lead to acute fetal hypoxia, which often causes stillbirth.

A third of all fetal deaths occur during pregnancies that are full term. Multiple pregnancies are at greater risk (1.5-1.6%) than singleton pregnancies (0.5-0.6%).

A child born at 24 weeks of gestation or later must be registered.
Some may feel that it is impossible to deal with paperwork during this difficult period of grief and despair. However, some parents find solace in the fact that they will have papers confirming the existence of the child as a keepsake.
You will then have to decide whether to bury or cremate your baby.
If your family income is low, contact the Office social protection at your place of residence for financial assistance.
Representatives of different cultures and religions conduct funeral rites in different ways. Say goodbye to your baby as your heart tells you.

My pain from losing my child does not go away. Where should I go?

You are grieving the loss of your child and will be in mourning for some time. You can contact a psychologist, with his help you will overcome mental pain. You can also chat with people who have experienced a similar tragedy. You will find them on our website.

Restoration of the body

In the first weeks after giving birth, you will have spotting, called bleeding, and pain in the lower abdomen, similar to menstrual pain. If you notice increased discharge or pain, do not delay visiting your gynecologist. Also, consult a doctor immediately if you experience discharge with a strong, unpleasant odor.
Milk has appeared in your breasts. This is uncomfortable and very upsetting, constantly reminding you of the loss of your child. There are drugs that suppress lactation. However, medical research shows that after you finish taking the medication, you may begin to experience discomfort again. Therefore, some women prefer to wait for the natural cessation of production. breast milk. If you decide not to take medications, ask your doctor to give you the necessary recommendations for ending lactation.
Six weeks after giving birth, you will be examined by a gynecologist. During your appointment, you can ask questions about the possible reasons for the loss of the child, as well as what needs to be taken into account in a possible subsequent pregnancy. You will also be able to discuss the autopsy results with your doctor if they are available at that time.
After some time, your body will return to its previous shape. Physical exercise will help restore strength and strengthen muscles. Accept emotional support and practical help from friends and family if you need it.
Find out about your maternal rights and don’t rush to go to work until you recover.

What to pay attention to in your next pregnancy?

If a child died for unknown reasons, this does not increase the risk of a recurrence in the future.
If there was a birth defect, you may be referred for genetic testing.
Certain factors can lead to the birth of a stillborn fetus. For example, smoking during pregnancy increases the risk. You should take precautions to avoid contracting listeriosis, salmonellosis and during pregnancy. Follow and follow all doctor's recommendations. If there is pain or bleeding, seek help immediately.
After experiencing a tragedy, many women strive to get pregnant as soon as possible. For others, on the contrary, it is difficult to decide to have another child. In any case, the next pregnancy can be very worrying for a woman.
Some women want to return to the same maternity hospital, to the same staff. Others prefer to forget about the sad experience and give birth in another place. There are perinatal centers that provide special support to parents who have lost a child in the past

In many cases cause of stillbirth remains unclear even after thorough examination. And sometimes several reasons are to blame for the death of a child.

The main causes of intrauterine fetal death include:

1. Poor fetal growth – Babies who grow too slowly have a significantly increased risk of being stillborn, especially those whose growth is severely delayed.

2. Placental abruption – a condition where the placenta begins to separate from the uterus before the baby is born is another cause of stillbirth.

3. Birth defects –Genetic and chromosomal abnormalities, as well as structural defects, can lead to stillbirth. Some stillborn babies have multiple birth defects.

4. Infections – infectious diseases of the placenta, child or mother are another cause of stillbirth, especially when a child dies. Infections lead to the development of syphilis, which causes the death of the child.

5. Umbilical cord problems – Umbilical cord accidents also result in a small number of stillbirths. When the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck, or if the umbilical cord is not properly attached to the placenta, the baby may be deprived of oxygen. Umbilical cord problems are common in healthy babies, but they are very rarely the main cause of stillbirth.

6. Other causes of stillbirth , such as hypoxia (lack of oxygen) during a difficult, prolonged labor or abdominal trauma (for example, due to a car accident), can also cause the death of the baby.

Which women are at increased risk for stillbirth?

This type of misfortune can happen to any pregnant woman, but some women are at greater risk than others. The likelihood that a pregnancy will end in stillbirth is much higher if the expectant mother:

• has given birth to a stillborn child in the past or was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction during a previous pregnancy;
• suffered from a previous pregnancy or has complications in this pregnancy such as gestational hypertension (caused by pregnancy), preeclampsia, eclampsia or cholestasis (liver disease);
• has a history of premature birth;
• suffers from chronic health problems such as hypertension, lupus, kidney and urinary tract diseases, diabetes, thrombophilia (blood clotting disorder) or thyroid disease;
• smokes, drinks (abuses alcohol) or takes drugs during pregnancy;
• is bearing twins or more children;
• suffers from obesity.

There is also some evidence that pregnancy through ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) or IVF (in vitro fertilization) can also be cause of stillbirth, even if the woman is carrying only one child.

The age of both the expectant mother and the expectant father also affects the risk of stillbirth. So, for example, if both parents are teenagers or, conversely, elderly people, the risk of stillbirth becomes significantly higher than if the age of the future parents was about 20 - 30 years. The increase in risk is most pronounced in adolescents under 15 years of age and in women 40 years of age and older.

As for teenagers, their physical immaturity and lifestyle most often lead to stillbirth. As for older parents, they are much more likely to conceive a child with lethal chromosomal abnormalities. In addition, they often have a whole “bouquet” of chronic diseases (especially hypertension and diabetes), which in themselves are one of the most common causes of stillbirth.

Some women who have medical reasons need to give birth immediately, while others can wait a while to prepare for the birth and give nature a chance to start on its own. During this time, the gynecologist will closely monitor the woman's condition to make sure that she does not develop an intrauterine infection or bleeding disorder.

Most women, however, prefer to be delivered as soon as they know their baby has died - either by induction of labor or by surgical removal of the fetus from the uterus (curettage), which is performed under local or general anesthesia.

Induction of labor

Most women are able to give birth on their own, that is, vaginally. If a woman's cervix has not begun to dilate in preparation for childbirth, the gynecologist may try to dilate it manually, with the help of kelp or medications. After this, the woman is injected with a synthetic hormone for uterine contractions - contractions.

Induction can be best choice for women who want to know the exact . Performing an autopsy on the baby after induction is more likely to determine the cause than analyzing fetal tissue obtained after uterine cleansing.

Cleaning the uterus (curettage)

If the pregnancy has not gone beyond the second trimester, it can be carried out using a procedure known as curettage (curettage, cleaning the uterine cavity), during which the doctor dilates the uterus and removes the fetus from it. Most often the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, but sometimes anesthesia can be local or epidural.

Curettage is the best choice for those women who do not want to go through labor and see their newborn baby not breathing. This procedure is easier morally. And, if the cleaning is performed by an experienced doctor, the likelihood of developing complications after it is much lower than after an induction.

What happens after childbirth?

The doctor who performed the delivery or curettage may send fetal tissue for a series of tests to try to determine the cause of the stillbirth. Immediately after birth, the placenta, membranes and umbilical cord are examined. After this, all the material obtained is sent to the laboratory for genetic testing.

Doctors also strongly recommend performing an autopsy on the child. This can be a difficult decision for parents who are grieving for their baby, especially since even careful research sometimes cannot answer the question of why the child died.

On the other hand, parents can gain very valuable information. For example, if the baby's stillbirth was the result of a genetic problem, the mother will be aware of the danger in her next pregnancy. Additionally, a woman may learn that the cause is something that is unlikely to happen again, such as an infection or a random birth defect—which is reassuring news if she wants to get pregnant again.

For parents who still have not decided to conduct a full autopsy after stillbirth, less invasive tests may be offered that may provide some useful information. These include X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds and examination of tissue samples. In addition, the mother should also undergo a full examination, along with a thorough assessment of her medical, obstetric and family history, to try to determine what led to such a disastrous end to the pregnancy.